Method and apparatus for providing a shopping list service

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus is disclosed that provides an Internet wish list for deferred purchasing. A user clicks on an add to wish list button located on locations, such as, a product page, a banner ad, or search results to add an item to the wish list. A reminder system is used to remind a user to purchase an item at a future time. The shopping list service may be integrated at a high level of integration and a low level of integration. On a low level of integration a proxy platform is used to add functionality to a website.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The invention relates generally to providing a shopping serviceon the Internet and, more particularly, is directed to a system forretaining shopping selections from a multitude of websites in a locationfrom which the shopping selections can be later accessed.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Throughout the history of man, there has been the desire toacquire possessions. At the early point of man's existence, the mainfocus was acquiring such necessities as food and water. As man hasdeveloped over the eons, the constant drive to possess necessities hasevolved to possessing non-necessities such as big screen TV's andcellular phones. One method for acquiring such non-necessities has beenthe shopping list. Typically a shopping list is created by a personwalking through a mail, finding things that they like, and physicallywriting them down onto a piece of paper.

[0005] As time has passed, online or Internet shopping has becomeincreasingly popular. Unfortunately, the development of shopping listshas not yet accompanied the development of the Internet. Currently,while online shopping lists exist, they only work on a single website.This requires a person who typically shops from many websites, to havemultiple shopping lists, one from each website. Also, current Internetshopping lists do not allow a user to add items to his shopping listfrom a search result. And also, current shopping list systems must behighly integrated with a shopping website for the shopping list and thewebsite to function together.

[0006] What is needed is a shopping list that works with many shoppingwebsites. What is needed is a shopping list that can add an item from asearch result. What is needed is a shopping list that can add an itemfrom a website that is not highly integrated with the shopping listsystem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A method and apparatus is disclosed that provides a shopping listservice such as a wish list for deferred purchasing. The shopping listcomprises information, such as the name of the item, a brief descriptionof the item, the date the item was added to the list, and a link to aproduct page for the item.

[0008] To add an item to the shopping list, a user clicks on an add towish list button located on web locations such as, a product page, abanner ad, or search results. When a user views his shopping list heperforms such functions as, viewing the items on the list, removingitems from the list, linking to a product page and purchasing the item.

[0009] A reminder system is used to remind a user to purchase an item ata future time. The shopping list service is integrated in such ways as,a high level of integration and a low level of integration. Whenintegrated at a low level, a proxy platform is used to add buttons, suchas, a buy button and an add to wish list button. The proxy platform isan intermediate website with which the shopping website is viewed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating a website product pagewith and without an add to wish list button according to the invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a wish list web page according tothe invention;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a search result that contains addto wish list buttons according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a recipe with an add all buttonaccording to the present invention; and

[0014]FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a reminder page according to thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0015]FIG. 1A illustrates a typical shopping website page 100. Thewebsite sells DVD players. The website page displays the name of the DVDplayer 110, the price 120 is and the quantity selected 130.

[0016]FIG. 1B illustrates the same web page with an Add to Wish Listbutton 140. Activation of the Add to Wish List button 140 adds theproduct to the user's shopping/wish list.

[0017]FIG. 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the wish list 200.The wish list 200 records item and web page information, moreparticularly, purchase information, so that a user can track theselected products. The wish list records the product name 210, URL 220,price 230, manufacturer 240, and the date 250 that the product was addedto the wish list. The shopping/wish list system automatically checks theURL on a routine basis to ensure that it is still valid. A userpurchases the item by pressing the add to shopping cart button 260 onthe wish list page. A user also views items similar to the items on hiswish list by selecting the See more items like those in you Wish Listbutton 285. A user accesses the wish list either by logging on through alogin site or by automatically being logged on through an Internetservice provider such as AOL produced by America Online Inc. of Vienna,Va.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, URL information for website items aretracked by correlating the URL for a product to the product's stockkeeping unit (SKU). Each product or item has a unique SKU number. TheSKU number does not change. However, URL's often change. As pages arechanged, so are the products' URL's. Using the SKU as an intermediatereference allows a validation process to point to the current URL fromthe SKU. When the wish list system checks a website to see if a URL isvalid, it reads the SKU value of the item, then reads the correspondingURL listed by the website, and checks the URL value with the URL kept bythe shopping list system. If the URL values match, then the URL isvalid. If the URL's do not match, then it is not valid.

[0019] An item is added to the wish list by several other methods. Onesuch method is by pressing an Add to Wish List button located next to anitem listed in a search result. FIG. 3 illustrates the search resultsfor a DVD player. Beside each listed DVD player 310, 311, 312, 313, 314is an Add to Wish List button 320, 321, 322, 323, 324. Pressing of abutton 320 adds the corresponding item 310 to the wish list. Searchresults are obtained from multiple merchants who are part of the wishlist system. Other methods of adding items to the wish list includepressing an add to wish list button located on, a banner ad, a decisionguide, a promotional browser window, a personal shopper's toolbar and aproduct page. Items are removed from the wish list by selecting the itemand pressing the delete button 270. A user can also save search resultsonto his wish list.

[0020] Promotions such as coupons are typically offered through apromotional browser window that pops up when a user views his wish list.The coupons typically relate to items on the user's wish list. Thecoupons are offered for a limited time.

[0021]FIG. 4 illustrates a web page 400 listing the items 410 for arecipe. A user saves all the items 410 on the recipe by pressing the AddAll button 420. Add all buttons are provided where it is likely that auser will purchase many related items at once. Examples are, but notlimited to, recipes, pieces of gym equipment, a book series and computerparts.

[0022] The user has the option to name his wish list. Typically the nameof wish lists relates to events, such as, weddings, birthdays, andanniversaries. These lists can be merged to create a single list. Also,the wish lists of multiple users can be merged together.

[0023] Once a wish list is accessed, the user has multiple options. Onesuch option is clicking on a wish list item link 220 to access theitem's product page 100. Another such option is that he purchases theitem from the wish list page by activating a buy is button or begins theprocess of purchasing the item by pressing the Add to cart button 260.

[0024] A user shares his wish list with others by several ways. One suchway is to make the wish list accessible through the user's profile. Thewish list is accessible by another person while viewing the user'sprofile. In a preferred embodiment, the user's profile is accessed bytyping in the user's screen name in a user search window availablethrough the wish list service host. The user has the option to precludeothers from searching through his wish list. Also, the user can set up apassword step that a potential wish list viewer must enter before heviews the wish list.

[0025] Alternatively, the user shares his wish list by emailing a linkto the wish list. The email provides a link to the user's profile and/orwish list, where the email recipient then views it.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the buy button and/or shopping cartpurchase system is linked to a cyber wallet. A cyber wallet typicallyresides on a client computer system, and performs financialtransactions, such as purchases, by communicating with a serverapplication on a server computer system. For example, a user on a clientcomputer system decides to purchase software from a server computersystem that is belongs to a software vendor. Protocols such as theSecure Electronic Transactions (SET) protocol and the Open TradingProtocol (OTP) enable the server computer system to receive a paymentfor the software from a cyber wallet on the client computer system.Using these protocols, this payment is automatically deducted from anaccount linked to the cyber wallet on the client computer system, and isautomatically credited to an account linked to an application on theserver computer system.

[0027] The wish list system keeps statistical data on the items saved onthe wish list. The statistical data kept is, but not limited to, numberof users creating wish lists, average number of products added per wishlist, total number of products wished for, average number of productswished for per list, the link which led to the creation of the wishlist, number of click-throughs generated by the wish list, number ofpublic lists, number of shared lists, average number of recipients pershared list, number of guest viewers of all wish lists, number ofremoved products per list, number of purged lists, top twenty mostpopular products, number of anonymous wish lists created, number ofanonymous wish lists saved, and the number of Jot-It-Down buttons. Ananonymous wish list is a wish list for a user choosing to sign into anassociated user registration process anonymously, whereby such wish listmay be kept for a temporary amount of time, such as, for example, thirtydays. A Jot-It-Down button is a button linking to a Jot-It-Down featurewithin the user's wish list. Such feature allows the user to enter adescription and a date and a time for when to check the wish list, and,optionally create an associated link in the user's calendar for suchdate and time back to the wish list.

[0028]FIG. 5 illustrates a calendar system 500 that enables a user toset future reminders. A user selects a date 510 and then entersinformation 520 that will be used to remind him at a later time. Suchinformation includes, but is not limited to, anniversaries, birthdays,and when to purchase a product. A user is able to configure the calendarto automatically purchase an item on the user's wish list on a futuredate. The item is automatically purchased by receiving information fromthe user's cyber wallet. Price-based alerts remind the user to purchasea product if the product should equal or fall below a designated price.

[0029] In another embodiment, the buy and add to wish list buttons areadded to a website that is not highly integrated. Typically, a highlevel of integration is required between a website and a cyber walletprovider and/or a cyber mall to add functions such as, a buy and add awish list button. A proxy platform adds these buttons with a low levelof integration. The proxy is described in the co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/017,662, Proxy Platform Integration System(filed Dec. 14, 2001) and is commonly assigned to NetscapeCommunications, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif., which application isincorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto.

[0030] The proxy platform acts as an intermediate website that altersthe appearance of another website. A user views the website through theproxy. The proxy platform adds, removes or rearranges elements on thewebsite. The proxy platform adds functional elements such as a buttonthat interacts with the website. To the user, the integration of thewebsite and the proxy platform is seamless, such that the user believeswhat he is seeing is an unaltered website.

[0031] A buy button on the proxy platform provides automatic formfilling by accessing the user's cyber wallet and relaying purchaseinformation to a merchant website. Each piece of information isdesignated properly and entered onto the merchant's purchase form. Theadd to wish list button adds items to the user's wish list.

[0032] A proxy platform is created by parsing a website, and mapping theelements of the website. Rules are created that designate how theelements of the website are to be manipulated. For example, in additionto manipulating the website by adding and removing elements, webelements can be manipulated by moving them around the page such that thelayout of the web elements are different than the original.

[0033] Although the invention is described herein with reference to thepreferred embodiment, one skilled in the art will readily appreciatethat other applications may be substituted for those set forth hereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the invention should only be limited by the Claims includedbelow.

1. An apparatus for providing an Internet shopping list servicecomprising: a shopping list capable of containing items from at leasttwo websites, retained on a computer memory; a computer for adding andsubtracting at least one item on said shopping list; buttons for addingand subtracting said item onto, and off of, said shopping list; aconnection for connecting said computer onto said Internet; a reminderfor providing information to a user at a future time about said item onsaid shopping list; and at least one promotional item capable of beingadded to said shopping list; wherein a user purchases said item fromsaid shopping list.
 2. An apparatus for providing an Internet shoppinglist service comprising: a shopping list means capable of containingitems from at least two websites, retained on a computer memory means; acomputer means for adding and subtracting at least one item on saidshopping list means; button means for adding and subtracting said itemonto, and off of, said shopping list means; a connection means forconnecting said computer means onto said Internet; a reminder means forproviding information to a user at a future time about said item on saidshopping list means; and at least one promotional item capable of beingadded to said shopping list means; wherein a user purchases said itemfrom said shopping list means.
 3. An apparatus for providing an Internetshopping list service comprising: a shopping list capable of containingitems from at least two websites, retained on a computer memory; acomputer for adding and subtracting at least one item on said shoppinglist; buttons for adding and subtracting said item onto, and off of,said shopping list; and a connection for connecting said computer ontosaid Internet.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: areminder for providing information to a user at a future time about saiditem on said shopping list.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein saidreminder is a calendar.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein saidcalendar automatically purchases a shopping list item on a predetermineddate.
 7. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: at least onepromotional item capable of being added to said shopping list.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 3, wherein a user purchases said item from saidshopping list.
 9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said shopping listrecords information comprising any of: the URL of said item, name ofsaid item, description of said item, price of said item, related items,and the date said item was added to said shopping list.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein said URL is periodically checked forvalidity.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said URL of said item isreferenced by the stock keeping unit of said item.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein shopping data is recorded, said data comprising any of:number of users creating wish lists, average number of products addedper wish list, total number of products wished for, average number ofproducts wished for per list, the link which led to the creation of thewish list, number of click-throughs generated by the wish list, numberof public lists, number of shared lists, average number of recipientsper shared list, number of guest viewers of all wish lists, number ofremoved products per list, number of purged lists, top twenty mostpopular products, number of anonymous wish lists created, number ofanonymous wish lists saved and the number of Jot-it-Down buttons. 13.The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a merging means formerging multiple shopping lists into a single shopping list.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 3, wherein said shopping list has a theme comprisingany of: an anniversary, a wedding and a birthday.
 15. The apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein said wish list is shared by means comprising any of:distribution through email, communication of a link, and viewing a userprofile.
 16. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said button for adding anitem to said wish list is located on any of: a banner ad, a decisionguide, a promotional browser window, a personal shopper's toolbar and aproduct page.
 17. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said button addsmultiple items to said wish list in a single activation.
 18. Theapparatus of claim 3, wherein said shopping list is accessed by meanscomprising any of: a logon site and an automatic logon through anInternet service provider.
 19. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein saidbutton is associated with said item by a proxy platform.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 3, further comprising: a buy button.
 21. Theapparatus of claim 20, wherein said buy button is associated with saiditem by a proxy platform.
 22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein saidbuy button is associated with a cyber wallet, said cyber walletproviding purchase information to conduct a purchase transaction.
 23. Amethod for providing an Internet shopping list service comprising thesteps of: retaining on a computer memory, a shopping list capable ofcontaining items from at least two websites; adding and subtracting atleast one item on said shopping list, with a computer; adding andsubtracting said item onto, and off of, said shopping list with abutton; connecting said computer onto said Internet; providinginformation to a user at a future time about said item on said shoppinglist; and promoting an item capable of being added to said shoppinglist; wherein a user purchases said item from said shopping list.
 24. Amethod for providing an Internet shopping list service comprising thesteps of: retaining on a computer memory means, a shopping list meanscapable of containing items from at least two websites; adding andsubtracting at least one item on said shopping list means with acomputer means; adding and subtracting said item onto, and off of, saidshopping list means with a button means; connecting said computer meansonto said Internet; providing information to a user at a future timeabout said item on said shopping list means; and promoting an itemcapable of being added to said shopping list means; wherein a userpurchases said item from said shopping list means.
 25. A method forproviding an Internet shopping list service comprising the steps of:retaining on a computer memory, a shopping list capable of containingitems from at least two websites; adding and subtracting at least oneitem on said shopping list with a computer; adding and subtracting saiditem onto, and off of, said shopping list with a button; and connectingsaid computer onto said Internet.
 26. The method of claim 25, furthercomprising the step of: providing information to a user at a future timeabout said item on said shopping list with a reminder.
 27. The method ofclaim 26, wherein said reminder is a calendar.
 28. The method of claim27, wherein said calendar automatically purchases a shopping list itemon a predetermined date.
 29. The method of claim 25, further comprisingthe step of: promoting at least one item capable of being added to saidshopping list.
 30. The method of claim 25, wherein a user purchases saiditem from said shopping list.
 31. The method of claim 25, wherein saidshopping list records information comprising any of: the URL of saiditem, name of said item, description of said item, price of said item,related items, and the date said item was added to said shopping list.32. The method of claim 31, wherein said URL is periodically checked forvalidity.
 33. The method of claim 31, wherein said URL of said item isreferenced by the stock keeping unit of said item.
 34. The method ofclaim 25, wherein shopping data is recorded, said data comprising anyof: number of users creating wish lists, average number of productsadded per wish list, total number of products wished for, average numberof products wished for per list, the link which led to the creation ofthe wish list, number of click-throughs generated by the wish list,number of public lists, number of shared lists, average number ofrecipients per shared list, number of guest viewers of all wish lists,number of removed products per list, number of purged lists, top twentymost popular products, number of anonymous wish lists created, number ofanonymous wish lists saved and the number of Jot-It-Down buttons. 35.The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of: merging multipleshopping lists into a single shopping list.
 36. The method of claim 25,wherein said shopping list has a theme comprising any of: ananniversary, a wedding and a birthday.
 37. The method of claim 25,wherein said wish list is shared by means comprising any of:distribution through email, communication of a link, and viewing a userprofile.
 38. The method of claim 25, wherein said button for adding anitem to said wish list is located on any of: a banner ad, a decisionguide, a promotional browser window, a personal shopper's toolbar and aproduct page.
 39. The method of claim 25, wherein said button addsmultiple items to said wish list in a single activation.
 40. The methodof claim 25, wherein said shopping list is accessed by means comprisingany of: a logon site and an automatic logon through an Internet serviceprovider.
 41. The method of claim 25, wherein said button is associatedwith said item by a proxy platform.
 42. The method of claim 25, furthercomprising the step of: providing a buy button.
 43. The method of claim41, wherein said buy button is associated with said item by a proxyplatform.
 44. The method of claim 41, wherein said buy button isassociated with a cyber wallet, said cyber wallet providing purchaseinformation to conduct a purchase transaction.